Domestic Violence and Psychology: A Critical Perspective

by Nicolson; Paula

• ISBN13: 9780415383721
• ISBN10: 0415383722
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2010-07-27
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This book rethinks the way psychological knowledge of domestic violence has typically been constructed. As well as being critical of the traditional 'woman blaming' stance, it is also at odds with the feminist position that men are wholly culpable for domestic abuse, and that violence in intimate relationships is caused by gender power relations. Instead, this book argues that by neglecting the emotions, experiences and psychological explanations for domestic violence, we fail those who suffer and thwart attempts to prevent future abuse.

Author Biography

Paula Nicolson is Professor of Critical Social Health Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London and is also a trainne at the Tavistock in psychodynamic organisational consultancy.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
The context	p. 9
Domestic violence: the material context	p. 11
What is domestic abuse?	p. 32
Psychology, feminism and ideology: where do we go from here?	p. 55
Discursive constructions of domestic violence and abuse	p. 77
The social construction of domestic abuse: myths, legends and formula stories	p. 79
Public perceptions and moral tales	p. 95
(Re)turning to intra-psychic psychology	p. 119
Lived experience and the 'material-discursive-intrapsychic' self	p. 121
Domestic abuse across generations: intra-psychic dimensions	p. 137
'Doing' domestic violence: dilemmas of care and blame	p. 156
Notes	p. 170
References	p. 173
Index	p. 198
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